Dental implants are posts or screws, usually made of titanium, that are surgically installed into the jawbone to replace the roots of the missing one or more teeth and provide strong support to the prosthetic tooth or teeth like a dental crown, bridges, and dentures, depending upon the number of teeth missing. Among all dental restoration solutions, dental implants stand out to be the sturdiest, most permanent and show a close resemblance to natural teeth.

However, it is a relatively common dental concern among dental implant patients to find their implants becoming loose or even falling out/ getting dislodged. Having a loose or dislodged dental implant can be a serious concern just as having a loose or dislodged permanent natural tooth. It can lead to pain, and the risk of having an infection, and would call in for another dental implant surgery to get a new dental implant placed.  

 If you feel like your dental implants are getting loose, but are not able to confirm it, do not know the reason behind them getting loose, or don’t know how they can be fixed, keep reading to get detailed insight on loose dental implants and what you can do if you have them.     

Signs of Having Loose Dental Implants

• A slight wobble of the dental implant or feeling of dental implants moving or shifting out of place while speaking, eating, laughing, coughing, or sneezing
• Biting and chewing food becomes challenging
• Pain or discomfort radiating from the implant site
• Unusual receding of the gums
• Visible inflammation of surrounding gum tissues or around the site of the dental implant
• Discoloration of the inflamed areas of the mouth
• Noticeable jawbone deterioration.

These complications often signal both early and late-stage failure of having dental implants. A loose dental implant is definitely not an emergency dental situation but its urgent to be corrected on time by a dental professional or implant specialist.  

What Causes Loose Dental Implants?

Dental implants can become loose due to a few possible reasons. Not all patients experiencing loose dental implants will experience loose implants because of the same cause.

Dentists can help correct loose tooth implants only if they are aware of the exact problem that occurs with the dental implants of their patients. Two distinct problems can occur with dental implants, which lead to a feeling of loose dental implants. These are:

Loose crown/bridge/denture- It is a more common, less serious dental concern. If only the replacement tooth is loose, probably the dental cement used to attach the dental crown to the abutment has degraded simply over time or else the dental crown itself has got worn down or cracked which causes it to loosen. For large bridgework and dentures used as a replacement for multiple missing teeth, the part or screws that hold dental bridges or dentures to the dental implant becomes loose. The loosening of the prosthetic tooth/teeth may be due to biting down too hard on any solid or eating any sticky food that could dislodge the fake tooth/teeth.

Loose roots of the dental implant-  An actual loose dental implant will have the root portion of the replacement tooth that extends below the gum line into the jawbone to be loose. Typically, the root portion is composed of a biocompatible metal- titanium, that fuses to the jawbone to securely itself in place. If the dental implant is coming loose from its root portion, this most likely indicates that there is a failure of the dental implant.

Gum disease is one possible reason that a dental implant can become loose by its roots because of the deterioration of health of gum tissues that hold the implants securely in place are infected by bacteria build-up. Another cause may be the failure of the titanium roots to fuse with the jawbone, i.e. properly heal after surgical implant placement. This may happen when jaw bone health is affected due to factors like smoking and osteoporosis.    

How to Fix Loose Tooth Implants?

For loose dental crowns, dental implant surgeons at EON Clinics can help fix them by simply cementing the dental crowns back in their place or replacing the old, damaged dental crown with a new customized one. In case there is an internal problem with abutments, that problematic portion of the abutment may need to be replaced, and then the crown placed on top of it again. 

In case of loose roots of the dental implant or failing implants, fixing the problem is challenging but can be done. There is no remedy for moving or failing true dental implants, the only thing that can be done is their removal and replacement with new implants. Before repeating the dental implant surgery, there might be a need for some additional surgeries like bone grafting. If the patient is having gum disease, that can be cleared up to allow the loose dental implant to correct itself. Smoking must be avoided to avoid delay or improper healing of the implant site. Also, if the jawbone is not thick or strong enough to support the dental implant, the dentists can help in ensuring implant surgery is a success by carrying out bone grafting to prepare the jawbone for a new dental implant.     

How to Prevent Loose Dental Implants?

Dental implants may not become loose over time if the implant patients take into note and execute the following actions:

• In case of suspecting gum disease, seeking prompt proper treatment is necessary.
• Avoid consumption of hard, crunchy, sticky food items or drinks that could wear down the dental crowns and worsen the dental implant problems.
• Be committed to following a good oral hygiene regimen to prevent gum infections or diseases that may damage dental implants. This includes daily brushing twice a day and flossing after meals to remove leftover food particles, plaque, or tartar from near the dental implant site.
• If having respiratory problems, blow your nose gently and avoid sneezing for the initial few days after dental implant surgery.
• Go for regular dental check-ups and visit a dental hygienist for cleaning at least twice a year. Follow-up dental visits after implant surgery are important for greater long-lasting success rates.  

Consulting a skilled dentist is important for accurate diagnosis, use of best techniques/tools for implant surgery, and knowing which implant material to be chosen for long-term success. To know more dental implant revision surgery, schedule a visit with the dental implant expert in Chicago at EON Clinics.